Indicator for letter-cases.



NO- 820,697. PATBNTED MAY 15, 1906.l W. D. BROWN L o. H. CAMPBELL.

INDICATOR POR LETTER GASES.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 16, 1905.-

z sHBETssHEET 1,

/VTVESSES: /NVNTORS yema, Af- @MM A T T ORNEY ANDREW E. GRAHAM co., moro-UmocRAPnzas. msnmsmn. u c

PATENTED MAY I5, 1906.

z sHBETssHBBT 2.

Q T .tm w C z L N M E m n @Alt m. m .A

W. D. BROWN & C. H. CAMPBELL.

INDICATOR IOR LETTER GASES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1905.

mnnew, E, GRAHAM co.. vuomuwoumvnsns. wAsmNGwn, D c.

. UNITED STATES Paraml OFFICE. i

WILLIAM D. BROWN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, AND CHARLES H. CAMPBELL, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

INDICATOR FOR LETTER-CASES Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented vray 1 5, 1 906.

Application led June 16, 1905l Serial No. 265,511.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM D. BROWN, residing at Indianapolis, Ain the county of Marion and State of Indiana, and CHARLES H. CAMPBELL, residing at Springeld, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators for Letter-Cases, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to indicators for letter-cases, being designed primarily for use in connection with letter-cases installed in postal-cars, although capable of use in other connections.

Owing to the limited space available in railway post-offices, the number of compartments in the letter-cases is usually insufficient to provide a separate compartment for the Areception of each group of letters forming a part of the scheme of classification or distribution. It therefore is necessary to provide for each compartment an indicator the legend of which can be changed as the use of the compartment is changed to receive different groups of mail-matter.

It is the object of our invention to provide for the compartments of these letter-cases indicators which shall vbe strong and durable, which may be readily moved to present different indicating legends as occasion may require, remaining in any position to which they may be set, which may be operated in groups, so as to change a number of indicators simultaneously to bring them into accordance with a new scheme of classification or distribution, the arrangement being'such, however, as to prevent binding of the parts under the distorting strains to which such letter-cases are subjected, which maybe read. ily applied and removed, the individual units being as readily taken apart and assembled, and which will eflectually protect from injury or defacement the labels carrying the indicating legends, at the same time permitting said labels to be readily inserted, removed, and changed.

To these ends our invention consists in certain novel features, which we will now proceed to describe and will then particularly point out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a case eming. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the same,

taken on the line w w of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of the guard-ring detached. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken onthe line fr of Fig. 2 and looking in the directionv of the arrows. Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of the bearing detached. Fig. 1l is a sectional view taken on the line y y of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. l2 is a detail sectional view of one end of the indicator-unit shell, taken on a line corresponding to the line z z of Fig. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 13 is a view of one of the labels detached. Fig. 14 is a view illustrating a modiiied form of the oint connecting the units, and Fig. l5 is an enlarged view of one end of what is shown in Fig. 4.

In the said drawings, 1 indicates as a whole the letter-case, of which only a small portion is shown in the drawings, it being understood that said case comprises a number of compartments 2, formed by horizontal members 3 and vertical members 4. In connection with each compartment there is em loyed an indicator, the same being preferab y located at the bottom of the compartment immediately in front of the horizontal member or partition 3, which forms the bottom of said compartment, said member being cut away at the front to accommodate the indicator' and bring the latter within the plane of the front of the case. The indicators thus eX- tend in a plurality of horizontal rows across' the front of the case and are preferably arranged to operate in unison in groups, any desired number of units in a horizontal row being thus connected, and in the present instance we have shown each group as comprising three units, although this number may be varied as desired. c

The units are all similar in construction, diering only in the fact that one of the end units of each group is provided with a detent mechanism and has one of its end bearings IOO 1o after referred to.

3o cylindrical body o modified for this purpose. We shall therefore first describe in detail the construction of one of these end units.

comprises a central body portion or core 5,

5 constructed, preferably, of wood and having 15,mit the legends of the labels to be plainly visible, but of less length and width than the labels and seats. The shell 7 and body 5 may be fastened together in any suitable way-as, for instance, by a removable pin or 2o screw 7 a, and the shell may have a stopflange 7b at one end, the body being introduced at the other end.

The labels are protected by reason of their location within the seats of the body some 25` distance back from the outer surface of the metallicA casing; but in order to more efliciently protect the same we provide for the sight-openings 8 a transparent protective closure 9, which is preferably in the form of a mica, isinglass, or other non-fraglilctransparent material located between t e body and the shell or casing 7. Near one of its ends the shell or casing 7 is cut away to form apertures 10, communicat- 3 5 ing with the grooves or seats 6 to permit the introduction and removal. of the labels. These apertures thus form receiving or inlet mouths communicating with the seats Within the body. The construction which we pre- 40 fer for this purpose is the construction shown in which the aperture is formed by cutting the shell around three sides of a square or rectangle, thus leaving a tongue 11, which may be bent down into the groove 6, as

45 shown more particularly in Fig. 4. This bent tongue forms an incline which facilitates the introduction of the labels into their seats and which also facilitates their removal, since each label when in place has one of its ends 5o resting upon this incline in a position `such that it can be readily engaged, so as to permit the withdrawal of the label. It will be observed that the inclined tongue forms a ortion of the bottom of the seat for the 5 5 abel, since it is practically a continuation of the surface of the wooden body u on which the label rests. After the labels ave been linserted the apertures 10 are closed by a guard-ring 12, which fits on the exterior of 6o the casing 7 and may be slid over the same at one end. The other end of the casing is provided with outwardly-extending flanges 13, forming a stop to limit the motion of the guard-ring in one direction when in closing 65 position. The body of the shell 7 is provided Each of said units.

.with an annular flange 18,

formed therein, said notches corresponding with a detent projection 14, which lies on the side of the guard-ring opposite to that on which the stop-anges 13 are located when the guard-ring is in position. The guardring has suflicient elasticity to permit it to be forced over the detent projection 14 both in moving it into position to close the apertures 10 and in moving it back from said position to expose said apertures; but said detent pro-v jection is of a character such as to hold the `ring against accidental displacement in one direction, while the stop-flanges 13 prevent displacement in the other direction, thus holding the guard-ring in a normal position such as to close the apertures 10.

It will be seen that the detent projection 14 has a gradual incline or slope along one side and a rather abrupt shoulder upon the other side, so that the placin of the guardring in normal position 1s facil1tated while at the same time 1t is more firmly held against accidental displacement.

The guard-ring may be provided with a radial flange 15 to facilitate its being grasped and moved into and out of position by the fingers of the operator.

The end unit which we are now describing is provided at one end with a journal-pin 16, secured thereto in any suitable manner, it being shown as fixedly mounted in one end of the wooden body 5. This journal-pin has its projecting end formed or cutaway so as to be4 semicylindrical in form, having a flat surface 17 extending diametrically across the same ,for a' portion of its length. At its other end the end unit under description is provided aving notches 19 in number and location with the label-seats of the unit. 20 indicates a housing secured to the inner face of one of the vertical members 4 of the case and com rising a base 21, by means of which it may be detachably secured to the vertical member 4 by means of screws 22 or otherwise, and a cylindrical flange 23, which is adapted to fit within the flange 18 at the end of the shell of the indicator unit. Within the housing 20 there is located a spring detent-pawl 24, which may be secured to a post or standard 25 and Whic has its body bent into a form to give it the desired resilience, said detent-pawl terminating in a V-sha l ed tooth 26, which projects throu h a notc or opening 27 in the flange 23 an is of a size to engage the notches 19 of the flange 18.

The units other than the end unit are constructed in the manner just described, except that the flange 18 is dispensed with and said end of the unit is provided with a journalin 28, corresponding to the journal-pin 16, ut reversely arranged, so that its semicylindric extension has a flat surface 29, adapted to interlock with the corresponding surface v17 .ofthe journal-pin of the adjacent unit. The

IOO

bearings for these journal-pins are shown in detail in Figs. 9 and 10, each bearing consisting of a sleeve 30, which is sunk into the outer vface of the corres onding member 4 of the casing, said sleeve aving lugs 31 on its front portion to receive screws 32, by which said bearing may be detachably secured to the casing member 4. The sleeve 30 has a bearing-aperture 33 adaptedto receive the interlocked ends of the journal-pins of the adjacent indicator-units, as shown more particularly in Fi 2, and provide a bearing for said journal-pins, at the same time holding them in interlocked engagement, so that all of the indicators of each group turn in unison. At the same time the fit of the j ournal-pins in said bearings and theconnections between the journalins of the adjacent indicatorunits are su 'ciently free to prevent any binding ofthe parts which might affect their freedom of rotation. Such binding isv apt to be caused in structures of this kind by variations in the alinement of or distance between the bearings, either from warping of the wood of which the case is made or from the distorting strains to which it is subjected owing to its connection with the car-body.

The labels, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 13, are indicated by the reference-numeral 34. They may be of any suitable material--such, for instance, as cardboard or the likeand may have the indicating legend printed thereon or produced thereon in any other way. The various labels are usually given distinctive colorings, according to their different roupings or arrangements.

The in icators may be readily applied to the case or removed therefrom, since their bearings are readily detachable. When it is necessary to place a label within a seat in any indicator, the guard-ring 12 may be moved to the right, being forced over the detent projection 14, thus exposing the opening 10, which forms the mouth of the label-seat, so that the label may be readily introduced, whereupon the guard-ring may be forced back into its normal position, where it will be held against accidental displacement, closing the aperture which forms the receiving-mouth of the label-seat. Since the indicators are readily turned, so as to bring any one of the labelseats into accessible position, any or all ofthe labels may be changed, renewed, replaced, or shifted around, as may be desired.

It will be observed that thev receivingmouths through which the labels are introduced into and removed from their seats are located some distance inward from the end of the body, and by reason of this construction said receiving-mouths are accessible when the end of the body is obstructed by the supporting bearing or case, so that the labels may be inserted and removed without removing the indicator from the case.

When the labels are in proper position in their seats, they are eiectually protected aginst displacement by the guard-rings, and, moreover, the structure of the indicatorunits is such that the labels are eiiectually protected against injury or defacement, which is particularly desirable, owing to the fact that exposed labels rapidly become illegible from contact with the hands of the operator or with the mail-matter, particularly in view of the smoke, dust, and cinders incident to railway travel.

The several indicators ofeach group are so larranged that those labels belonging to a given scheme of distribution will be simultaneously exposed in indicating position, and when it is desired to change the scheme of distribution all the indicators of each group may be simultaneously turned to bring the desired labels into indicating position, When the indicators of any one group are being thus turned to change their indicating functions, the detent-pawl 24 yields into the housing 20 to permit the ange 18 to turn upon the flange 23, said detent-pawl engaging successively with the notches 19 and successively yielding until the desired position of the indicators is attained, whereupon said detent-pawl remains in engagement with the notch 19, with which it engages When the indicators have finally reached the desired position, and serves by such engagement to hold the indicators against accidental displacement from their adjusted position. It will thus be seen that the indicators may be quickly and readily changed to adapt the case to any scheme of distribution within its range, that theconnections of the indicators of each group are of such a character as to prevent the extension thereof from causing any binding which would tend to prevent their Jfree operation, that the labels are readily interchangeable without removing the indicators, and that the labels are eiiciently protected from displacement and defacement.

We do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the precise details of construction hereinbefore described, and shown, in the accompanying drawings, as it is obvious that said details may be varied without departing from the principle of our invention as deiined by the appended claims,

For instance, we have shown in Fig. 14 a modified form of construction for the 'separable joint connecting the units in such a way as to cause them to rotate' in unison. In this construction one j ournal-pin is provided with a central transverse slot 35, having parallel walls, the mating journal-pin having a corresponding tongue 36, adapted to fit within the slot 35 and having parallel fiat walls to bear against the similar walls of said slot. This construction is advantageous, because it more certainly insures the rotation in unison of the units, particularly where the IOO IOS

IIO

variation between the journal-pin and bearing diameters is relatively great, while it does not interfere with the free separation in a longitudinal direction of the units nor materially tend to cause them to bind when the bearings are not in proper alinement.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. An indicator for letter-cases, &c., comprising a rotatory bodyportion longitudinally recessed to form aplurality of seats for indicating-labels, a shell inclosing and moving with said body portion and provided with a lurality' of sight-openings corresponding with the label-seats, and transparent closures for said sight-openings located between the body portion and shell, substantially as described.

2. An indicator for letter-cases, &c., comprising a body portion longitudinally recessed to form a plurality of seats for indicating-la bels, a shell inclosing and moving with said body portion and provided with a plurality of sight-openings corresponding with the label-seats, and a tubular body of transparent fieXible material interposed between said shell and body and closing the sight-openings, substantially as described.

3. An indicator for letter-cases, &c., comprising a rotatorybody portion longitudinally recessed to form a plurality of seatsforindieating-labels, a shell inclosing and moving with said body portionand provided with a plurality of sight-openings corresponding with the label-seats, and a tubular body of transparent flexible material interposed between said shell and body and closing the sight-openings, said shell having openings forming receiving-mouths through which the labels may be inserted and removed, substantially as described.

4. An indicator for letter-cases, &c., comprising a body longitudinally recessed to form a plurality of label-seats, a shell inclosing said body and havin sight-openings corresponding with the labe -seats, and separate apertures forming receiving-mouths for the label-seats, and a guard-ring mounted to slide on the shell and adapted to close said receiving-mouths, substantially as described.

5. An indicator for letter-cases, Sac., comprising a body longitudinally recessed to form a plurality of label-seats, a shell inclosing said body and having sight-openings corresponding with the label-seats, and separate apertures forming receiving-mouths for the label-seats, and a guard-ring mounted to slide on the shell and adapted to close said receiving-mouths, said shell being provided with means for holding said guard-ring in position to close said mouths, substantially as described.

6. An indicator for letter-cases, &c., comprising a body longitudinally recessed to form a lurality of label-seats, a shell inclosing sai body and havin sight-openings corresponding with the labe -seats, and separate apertures forming receiving-mouths for the label-seats, and a guard-ring mounted to slide on the shell and adapted to close said receiving-mouths, said shell bein provided with means for holding said guar -ring in position to close said mouths, said means comprisin a stop on one side of the normal position o the ring, and an inclined detent projection on the other side thereof, the resilience of the parts permitting ythe ring to be forced over said detent projection, substantially asvdescribed.

7. An indicator for letter-cases, &c., comprising a body lon itudinally recessed to form a plurality of abel-seats, and a shell having sight-openings corresponding with the label-seats, and separate apertures forming inlet-mouths for said label-seats, the bottoms of said seats being inclined upward to the mouths at their ends adjacent to said mouths, substantially as described.-

8. An indicator for letter-cases, &c., comprising a body lon itudinally recessed to form a plurality of abel-seats, and a shell having sight-openings corresponding with the label-seats, and separate apertures forming inlet-mouths for said label-seats, the bottoms of said seats being inclined upward to the' mouths at their ends adjacent to said mouths, in combination with a guard-ring for closing said mouths, substantially as described. i

9. An yindicator for letter-cases, &c., comprising a body lon itudinally recessed to form a plurality of abel-seats, and a shell having sight-openings corresponding with the label-seats, and separate apertures forming inlet-mouths for said label-seats, the bottoms of said seats being inclined upward to the mouths at their ends adjacent to said mouths, said inclines being formed by inwardly-bent tongues forming portions of the shell partly severed therefrom to form the inlet-openings, substantially as described.

10. An indicator for letter-cases, &c., comprising a substantially cylindrical body having bearing-supports at its ends, longitudinally-extending internal label-seats, correspending. sight-openings smaller than said seats, and apertures forming receivingmouths for said seats, said apertures being located inward from the end of the body, so as to be accessible when the end of the body is obstructed by the supporting-bearing, in combination with a uard-ring mounted to slide on said body and adapted to close said apertures, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with a letter-case or the like having a plurality of compartments arranged in a horizontal row, of an indicator comprising a group of units, one for each y compartment, mounted in a row on said case,

IOO

IIS

said units being detachably connected so as to rotate in unison while free to accommodate themselves to variations in alinement or distance of the bearings7 substantially as described.

12. The combination, with a letter-case or the like having a plurality of compartments arranged in a horizontal row, of an indicator comprising a group of units, one for each compartment, mounted in a row on said case, said units being detachably connected so as to rotate in unison while free to accommodate themselves to variations in alinement or distance of the bearings, one of said units being provided with a detent mechanism to hold the roup in adjusted position, substantially as escribed.

13. The combination, with a letter-case or the like having bearings arranged in a row,

of a group of indicator-units having journalpins entering said bearings and having their meeting ends cut away longitudinally to match Within said bearings to cause said units to rotate in unison, substantially as described.

14. The combination, with an indicator having a plurality of labels extending longitudinally thereof, and a terminal bearingflange provided with corresponding notches, of a fixed housing comprising an annular flange to form a bearing for the indicatorflange, and a spring detent-paw] located Within said housing-ilange and projecting beyond the same to engage the notches of the indicator-flange, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WLLIAM D. BROWN. CHARLES H. CAMPBELL. Witnesses:

IRVINE MILLER, HARRIET HAMMAKER. 

